Step three: Slowly whisk the wet mixture into the dry. It’s super important to work quickly and not let the wet ingredients sit on top of the dry for too long. If you don’t work quickly, the wet ingredients with react with the citric acid. Many bath bomb pros recommend mixing the ingredients one spoonful at a time.

Step four: Once all your ingredients are well-mixed, grab your heart mold and start spooning he mixture into the molds. You want to make sure to really press the mixture firmly in, so that it gets compacted.

Step five: Let the bath bombs set in the mold for about half an hour at the least. I would recommend letting them set overnight, then removing them from the mold and letting them dry further (a few hours) before moving on to decoration.

Step six: Using an ultra-fine tipped paintbrush and some red food dye, add some phrases to your hearts. Be careful that you don’t use too much dye; just like in step two, the wet dye can react with the citric acid if we use too much liquid.

]]>https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/conversation-heart-bath-bombs/feed/0treeandtwineDIY Cheesecloth Ghostshttps://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/11/21/diy-cheesecloth-ghosts/
https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/11/21/diy-cheesecloth-ghosts/#respondMon, 21 Nov 2016 00:59:18 +0000http://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/?p=307Continue reading →]]>Halloween is my favorite time of year. Truthfully, I celebrate it year round. I am known for watching Halloweentown in February, rocking Beetlejuice apparel to Christmas dinner, and quoting Hocus Pocus with every other breath. My secret dream is to own a spooky
themed cafe in Salem, MA and own three golden retrievers: Winifred, Mary, and Sarah.

Spooky yogis in spooky tree

I even themed out the weekly yoga class that I teach, and had everyone dress up for a class fueled by remixes of Halloween classics. Seriously, this is my time.

I suppose it goes without saying that once October rolls around, there is no stopping my crafting nature. This one is my current favorite. It’s possibly the most simple idea ever, and one that I’ll admit I can’t take full credit for. Many seasoned crafters are sure to say, “Been there, done that,” but never mind them. This craft is a ghoulish take on papier-mâché that leaves you with some spooky freestanding ghosts. Let’s get into this.

Here’s what you’ll need (per ghost):

1 yard of cheesecloth

1 balloon

Empty soda bottle

Tape

1/2 cup of Elmer’s Glue

1/2 cup of water

Black construction paper

Hot glue gun

Hairdryer (depending on your timeline)

Step 1: Inflate your balloon to a medium size and place it on top of the empty soda bottle. Use some tape to hold that sucker in place.

Step 2: Mix together the glue and water. Stir that up until it looks like milk and then set it aside for a second. Don’t drink it–seriously, it’s not milk.

Step 3: Take your yard of cheesecloth and dip it into the glue-water mixture. Make sure it’s well soaked and then open it up and drape it over the top of the balloon. Spread out the cheesecloth so that it drapes and goes all the way to the base of the bottle. You can fan out the bottoms for extra support if you’d like.

Step 4 (optional): If you’re in a time crunch for decorations, or perhaps if you’re simply impatient like me, you can use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process. If you’re in no rush, leave the ghosts to dry overnight.

Step 5: Once the ghosts are entirely dry, use a sharp object to pop the balloon. The glue may have stuck slightly to the balloon, which can cause the head of your ghost to cave in. Fear not, mortals! This is normal, and if you just push the head back out and into the desired shape, it will stay in place for good.

Step 6: Take your black construction paper and cut out two eyes and a mouth. Make this ghost as cheerful, tortured, or terrifying as you desire. We want these guys to have some personality, after all! Use some hot glue to attach the eyes and mouth to the ghost. Voila! You’ve got a wonderfully easy decoration ready to go. If you want to see an example of how this comes together, you can check out my recent segment on CT Style, where I crafted some ghosts in full-on Peter Pan garb. I told you: I live for Halloween. Happy haunting!

]]>https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/11/21/diy-cheesecloth-ghosts/feed/0treeandtwineimg_9984img_0236“Life From Death” Succulent Planterhttps://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/succulent-skull/
https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/succulent-skull/#respondSun, 20 Nov 2016 16:52:53 +0000http://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/?p=252Continue reading →]]>With just a few basic tools and some left over Halloween decorations, this artful succulent arrangement is surprisingly simple to create. Clicking the blue text below will link you to Amazon for the more difficult to find supplies. Here’s what you’ll need:

Once you’ve gathered all of your supplies, you’re ready to get started. Our first step is the most difficult part of this craft, but possibly the most fun part, too! You’re going to need your blowtorch and box cutter for this. If you don’t have a blowtorch just lying around, fear not! A hairdryer on the highest setting will suffice–it’ll just take a little longer. Using a pencil, sketch a circle around the dome of the skull. It’s about to get fiery.

Step 2:

Take your blowtorch or hairdryer and thoroughly heat the line that you traced. Take your box cutter, and cut along that line. The plastic should have been softened by the heat. Act quickly though; you want to get this step done before the plastic has cooled off. This will be super easy if you used a blowtorch, but if you’re using a hairdryer, you may need to do this in small sections.

The blowtorch has the power! Wield responsibly.

Step 3 (optional):

This step is totally optional, depending on the look you’re going for. If you want a succulent in the eye socket, read on. If not, proceed the step four. Use your blowtorch or hairdryer to heat behind one of the eye sockets of the skull. Once thoroughly heated, cut out the plastic so that you now have a hollow eye socket. Don’t worry if this is jagged looking; the soil and succulent that you plan will cover that up.

Step 4:

Drainage is super important for all plants, but succulents entirely rely on it. These little guys hate soggy roots, so make sure you complete this step. Flip over your newly dome-less skull, and grab your drill. Using a 1/4 inch drill bit, create a series of drainage holes so that water doesn’t get trapped at the bottom of your planter. This will allow for proper drainage and help to avoid mold and mildew issues.

Rocks and screen at the bottoms of your planter will help with drainage.

Step 5:

It’s time to prep for planting. We’re going to start out by placing our 4″ x 4″ piece of screen in the bottom of the skull. This will prevent stones from falling through or clogging up the drainage holes. Next, put a layer of stones in the bottom of the skull. Once these are down, fill your planter about 3/4 of the way with soil.

Step 6:

Pick out your succulents! I’ve gotten mine from a friend in Maui who owns his own succulent farm (shoutout to Derek!). Check your local nurseries and markets for succulents and airplants. If you can’t find any locally, you can always order them on Etsy or eBay. Once you’ve picked your selection, get to arranging!

Tips for care:

Don’t overwater your succulents! Make sure the soil is completely dried out before you water your succulents.

Consider the environment: succs will grow to the space they’re given, so if you crowd them, don’t expect them to take off in size. If you have just a few spread out in a large pot, they will grow big and strong! Neither option is right or wrong–it’s simply a matter of preference.

Succulents like sunlight. Don’t keep these guys in a room with the shades drawn, or in the basement. The more light they receive, the more vibrant their colors will become. With less light, you will have less-vibrant colors and long, leggy plants.

]]>https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/succulent-skull/feed/0treeandtwineTalk about life after death...All Natural Egg Dyeshttps://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/03/22/all-natural-egg-dyes/
https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/03/22/all-natural-egg-dyes/#respondTue, 22 Mar 2016 01:32:39 +0000http://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/?p=239Continue reading →]]>Classic egg dyeing is fun, but a lot of people have started to question exactly what is in the famed tablet dyes. There are some questionable chemicals in these dyes, which while effective, may be unsafe. This is where our next craft comes into play. It’s a pretty simple one, but beware: THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART CRAFTER. This craft is rather difficult, and the results are questionable in my experience. Here’s what we wanna do.

What you need:

1 cup of your selected fruit or vegetable

1 cup of water

1 tbsp. of white vinegar

Step 1: Chop or mash your selected fruit or vegetable. Some of the best have been kale, spinach, blueberries, turmeric, red cabbage, and red onion skins.

Step 2: Mix your vegetable or fruit with 1 cup of water in a pot, and put the pot on medium to boil for 5-10 minutes covered. After 5-10 minutes, remove from heat and let cool.

Step 3: Once cooled, add 1 tbsp. of white vinegar to your dye.

Step 4: Drop an egg into your dye. White and brown eggs will have varying color results. The eggs will need to sit for 24-48 hours in order to fully absorb the natural dye. Frankly, this is a pain in the ass. Consider yourself warned: the result is not always what you would hope. It can be a gamble depending upon your vegetable or fruit of choice. Best of luck, crafters! Happy Easter!

]]>https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/03/22/all-natural-egg-dyes/feed/0treeandtwineGalaxy Egg Dyinghttps://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/galaxy-egg-dying/
https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/galaxy-egg-dying/#respondMon, 21 Mar 2016 03:38:04 +0000http://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/?p=218Continue reading →]]>Spring has officially arrived and Easter is upon us, which can only mean one thing: it’s time to dye some eggs. If your family is anything like mine, you probably grew up with Pal’s Egg Dye Tablets, or something of the chemically, vinegar soluble variety. By no means do I intend to knock this method, because it’s truly a classic; however, there are plenty of other options. One of my current favorites: swirled, galaxy style eggs. These are so simple and fun, and require minimal supplies.

Step 2: Strategically drop a good amount of food dye drops (2 or 3 colors!) onto the shaving cream, and then use your chopstick or toothpick to swirl the colors together.

Step 3: Put on your gloves, we’re about to get messy! Grab an egg, and gently roll it through your swirled shaving cream designs, and then set it aside to set. Repeat for as many eggs as you would like in your Easter galaxy.

Step 4: After your eggs have dried for about 10-15 minutes, use a paper towel to remove excess shaving cream from the egg, then set it aside to dry a bit more. Optional: you can rinse the eggs for a slightly less bold look. The dye will stay, but will be more pastel than neon.

That’s all there is to it! If you’re more of a visual learner, you can watch my recent segment from CT Style to see how this comes together. Some people may be concerned about chemicals/toxicity when using shaving cream for the eggs; Cool Whip serves as another option that will work exactly the same. Be warned, though: Cool Whip will be much sticker than shaving cream!

]]>https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/galaxy-egg-dying/feed/0treeandtwineimg_0234IMG_8968Snowed In Cinnamon Bunshttps://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/01/24/snowed-in-cinnamon-buns/
https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/01/24/snowed-in-cinnamon-buns/#respondSun, 24 Jan 2016 17:33:58 +0000http://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/?p=192Continue reading →]]>The East Coast got hammered with snow this past weekend, so since I was snowed in, I figured I would bake something and get hammered, too. It’s a traditional New England winter sport, you know. I’ve always wanted to try making cinnamon buns from scratch, and this seemed like the perfect day. I knew this was bound to be a hell of a time, so I’m happy to report that I was joined by my sweet and wonderful friend Carly, who was duped into being/kidnapped as my baking partner. Baking is hard—you need the buddy system if you’re going to make it through.

Ultimately, we didn’t get as hammered as I had planned—Julia Child would have been disappointed. However, we did make amazing cinnamon buns. Forewarning: this recipe is time consuming and has a lot of steps that seems pointless but aren’t. Have no fear, it’s all for a worthy cause. Let’s get baked!

Optional: ¼ or ½ tsp. coffee extract. We didn’t do this, but contemplated it. The flavors would complement one another nicely, so it’s something to consider if you want to mix it up!

Icing/Heaven Juice:

1 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar

½ stick butter (or a little less if you’re running low after this Paula Deen-style cooking)

2-3 tbsp. half and half (or water)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Step 1: Grab a large bowl or stand mixer, and combine the flour, yeast, and salt.

Step 2: Plop the sugar, butter, water, and half and half in a microwaveable bowl, and nuke that until the butter is almost fully melted. Start out with a minute or so.

Step 3: Add the milk mixture to the flour and then add the egg. Mix all that ish up. If you’re using a stand mixer, a dough hook will work best. Use that on low. If not, then you’ll need to mix this all up and ultimately knead the dough until it’s nice and firm like the buttocks of a professional squatter. Weird description.

Step 4: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it chill for a bit.

Step 5: We’re moving onto the filling. Combine the cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar in a bowl. Soften the remaining half stick of butter just enough that you can spread it without any trouble. Good work.

Step 6: Roll out your dough into a big ol’ rectangle. Take that soft/flaccid butter and spread it on every last inch of the dough. You want that thing greasier than a Calvin Klein model. This is gonna be tasty AF.

Step 7: Sprinkle your cinnamon sugar mixture all over the buttered dough and then roll the whole thing up neatly and tightly. Using a serrated knife (or dental floss or wire or something if you’re a pretentious little shit), slice the roll into twelve even pieces. Any leftover bits are yours for tasting raw. #yolo

Step 8: Heat the oven to 250. While that heats up, put the rolls into a 9×13 glass baking pan and cover it with tin foil or even a dish towel. Now shut the oven off (I know, wtf?) and put the buns in for 25 minutes to rise.

Step 9: Remove the buns, take off the foil, and preheat the oven to 375. Once it’s heated all the way, put the buns back in the oven and let ‘em bake for 15 minutes. I’m sorry that this is so freaking complicated.

Step 10: It’s time for the icing! This is the easiest part. Combine all of those ingredients listed under “Icing/Heaven Juice,” whisk them up, and wait for the buns to done…s.

Step 11: Once the buns are golden brown and buttery, take them out and try to manage a sliver of restraint while they cool. After about 16.4 seconds, throw some icing on those babies and stuff your face. This is your time to shine.

]]>https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/01/24/snowed-in-cinnamon-buns/feed/0treeandtwinecinnamonbuns3Scream Queens-inspired Chanel-o-Ween Mughttps://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/scream-queens-inspired-chanel-o-ween-mug/
https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/scream-queens-inspired-chanel-o-ween-mug/#respondWed, 13 Jan 2016 05:06:49 +0000http://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/?p=171Continue reading →]]>Into poisoning your friends? Maybe you’re a little bit evil and vindictive inside? Well, this is the craft for you! This is a mug inspired by Scream Queens, more specifically, the queen bitch sorority leader: Chanel Oberlin. Chanel is vicious, and today, you are too. You’re poisoning your friends–well, at least imagining it. This mug is so simple to make, but can take a little trial and error when it comes to writing things with the glass paints. See below.

For this craft, you’ll need:

A plain colored mug

Glass paints (I recommend Martha Stewart brand)

An ultra-fine tipped Sharpie

Step 1: Let’s get down to biznazz. Using your Sharpie, write “You’ve just been poisoned” at the bottom of the mug. Add a little heart for extra sass.

Step 2: Using your glass paints, create a “Happy Chanel-o-ween” text design on the outside of the mug. Once you’re satisfied, let the paints set for about 30 minutes. Once dry, pop the mug onto a cookie sheet and it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Step 3: After 30, remove the mug and let it cool. Give a quick hand-wash before using or gifting the mug.

Boom. That’s seriously it. A fun and murderous gift to impress any and every frenemy in your life. Peace out, idiot hookers.

]]>https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/scream-queens-inspired-chanel-o-ween-mug/feed/0treeandtwinechaneloweenDraw My Life Coloring Bookhttps://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/draw-my-life-coloring-book/
https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/draw-my-life-coloring-book/#respondWed, 13 Jan 2016 04:31:19 +0000http://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/?p=128Continue reading →]]>Thoughtful gifts are the best kind of gifts. However, sometimes we can all get a little stuck on the same few “thoughtful” gifts–a framed photo, a scrapbook, and personalized gift basket, etc. This idea is one that will be a big hit.

“Grown up coloring” is all the rage right now. It’s literally everywhere and it’s seemingly inescapable. The adult world has finally embraced the zen of coloring books and the world is a better place for it. We’ve all seen the meticulously designed books with sheets of mandalas or flowery designs. They’re beautiful, but not necessarily personal. This gift idea is super crafty, personal, and is something that will turn these coloring books upside down. We’re making a personalized coloring book with photos of your life or your gift recipient’s life! I know it sounds hard, but bear with me, it’s not as much work as you’d think!

For this project, you’ll need:

A computer with internet access

A printer

Printer paper

22x 17 cardstock of your choosing (for cover–you may need two pieces)

A hole puncher

Twine, ribbon, sting, etc.

Step 1: Gather your photos. Do some sleuthin’ on Facebook, maybe crack open those dusty scrapbooks, or even stalk your gift recipient and snap a few new shots for a super creative and admittedly creepy book. Maybe skip that last suggestion.

Step 2: Turn these photos into coloring book pages. This is a lot easier than you might expect. Visit an online photo editing website like Pixlr or iPiccy and toy around with their “Pencil Sketch” photo filter. This will give you great outlines in black and white format, and the more you play with it, the more defined your lines will be. Tip: higher quality images work MUCH better. Photos from a digital camera will look a thousand times better than iPhone photos.

Step 3: Print your photos, and three hole punch each sheet. If you want to handwrite some captions for a personal touch, go crazy! The goal is to make this gift a memorable one, and nothing says memorable like a personal touch–not that kind, ya pervert.

Step 4: Fold your cardstock over the printed sheets like a book cover. Grab your three hole punch, and do the cover the same way you did the pages. Try to approximate the holes to the same spots. You got this.

Step 5: Slip the pages into the cover, then take some twine or ribbon and tie all the sheets into the book. Now you’ve got a super rustic and artsy-fartsy binding on your handmade gift. Someone is about to be hella impressed.

Step 6: Design your cover! This step is optional, I suppose, but adding a nice, hand drawn cover can be a really great final touch. It doesn’t have to be crazy. For mine, I titled the book “Part of Your World” after the song in The Little Mermaid, because the gift was for my friend Nikki and that’s “our song”. Try to think of something along those lines, so that you can hit your gift recipient right in the heart-hole and earn the title best gift giver ever.

There you have it!! Your coloring book is personalized and ready to go. Grab some colored pencils and a few shots of tequila, and your night is planned! Color to your heart’s content, my friends.

People of the world, spice up your life! Sorry, had to happen. This “Cranberry Spice” infused vodka is honestly just as wonderful as the Spice Girls in my book—and this comes from someone who can quote nearly all of SpiceWorld from start to finish. This is a crazy easy DIY, but mind you, it will take a few days for the flavors to fully infuse! Once you’ve got your wonderfully boozy and delicious creation completed, it can make a really nice (and inexpensive) gift around the holidays.

For this DIY, you’ll need the following:

2 mason jars (with lids)

A fine strainer

Vodka

¼ cup cranberries (fresh are preferable, but frozen will work)

3-4 cinnamon sticks

½ tablespoon whole allspice, cracked

½ tablespoon whole cloves, cracked

1 teaspoon ground ginger

2 tablespoons honey

Step 1: Put the cranberries and spices in the mason jar. Try crushing the cranberries a little bit in order to release the flavor more quickly. They’ve got a thick skin that will take forever and a half to penetrate—unlike your insult-throwing uncle who has paper for skin.

Step 2: Fill the jar up with vodka, leaving just a little bit of room at the top. Any left overs in that bottle are for you to party with, my friend!

Step 3: Add the honey to the mixture. If you want something a little sweeter, add in a little extra honey. Just eyeball it—this recipe is tough to ruin.

Step 4: Pop the jar into the fridge for about three days and wait patiently. At least once every day you’ll want to shake up the mixture (and maybe do a little taste test). If you aren’t feeling patient, you might recall that you have some left over vodka from Step 2…

Step 5: After three days, grab the vodka, a strainer, and a clean jar. Strain the now infused vodka into the new jar and presto—you’ve got a deliciously spice cranberry vodka ready for the drinkin’ or the giftin’.

]]>https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2015/12/01/cranberry-spiced-vodka/feed/0treeandtwineIMG_6190.JPGLast Minute Thanksgiving Decorhttps://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/last-minute-thanksgiving-decor/
https://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/last-minute-thanksgiving-decor/#respondMon, 23 Nov 2015 02:37:48 +0000http://treesandtwine.wordpress.com/?p=90Continue reading →]]>Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if we’re being honest, not everyone really cares. We’re so close to the wintry holiday season that a lot of people can’t help but let Thanksgiving fall to the wayside. I’ll admit it: I’m 100% one of those people. I’ve had Britney’s “My Only Wish (This Year)” on rotation since mid-October, and ordered a peppermint hot chocolate on Halloween. Go on, prepare your torches and pitchforks. I’ll be patiently waiting for you in my Rudolph onesie, because you know I need to go out in style. I digress.

Whether you skip merrily towards Christmas like me, or tend to be more of a holiday purist, there’s no denying that time flies and Thanksgiving—and all of your relatives—seem to appear almost out of nowhere each year. For a lot of us, this means flying around town and trying to get last minute details in order with minimal time. People who really have their shit together will give you a lot tips about time management and how to optimize your Thanksgiving grocery list, and so on. I am far from one of those people. However, what I do have is a way to get your house and table looking super festive in no time—and for almost no money at all. Let’s get down to business.

Bonus: If you’re super crunched on time, you can use the leaves from the thankful tree as your placeholders. Just write the names on each leaf, and leave a leaf with the name side up at each plate. This craft is super easy and also requires your guests to interact and appreciate one another.

Idea #2: Acorn Votives

This one is mind-numbingly simple. Here’s what you’ll need:

Mediums sized glass jars

Acorns

Tea light candles

This is pretty much self-explanatory from the picture, but just in case, here goes nothing:

Step 1: Go outside and collect a bunch of acorns! Befriend some squirrels!

Step 2: Put the acorns into the bottom of the jars

Step 3: Nestle one tea light candle into each jar of acorns and light the candle.

Good work! Now you’ve got a quick, cute, and festive addition to your Thanksgiving table. The little flames add a nice warmness to the setting and the acorns are perfect for the season. Even better: this is super duper cheap at the last minute.

Idea #2: Turkey Talk Placeholders

For this craft, you will need:

Cardstock or construction paper in a variety of fall colors, including red, orange, yellow, and tan/brown. Get creative! I tend to recommend patterned scrapbook paper, because it can give you a homier look.

Step 1: Print out the turkey body template and a picture of each guest. I did the hardest part of this for you. You’re welcome and I’d better get a shout out on your Thankful Tree. If possible, try to print the template onto your brown cardstock. If not, you can cut out one sample shape and trace it onto your cardstock.

Step 2: Cut out your turkey bodies and the faces of each guest from the photos set them aside.

Step 3: Cut out feather shapes on the various other colors of cardstock. Take four or five “feathers” and glue them together at one end, so the tops of each look fanned out (like a turkey, duh).

Step 4: Glue one the section labeled “A” for each turkey body to each set of feathers. Keep section “B” of the body separate for the time being.

Step 5: Glue your guests’ faces (the printed ones, not the real ones) to the top of the turkey’s “neck”.

Step 6: Take section “B” of each body template and cut along the dotted line. Push the two pieces together at the dotted lines to form a stand. The two pieces of cardstock should form a cross shape when looked at from the bottom.

Once you’ve put together all of your Turkey Talk Placeholders, set them out on the plates at the table. These come together pretty quickly–the most time consuming aspect is honestly finding the photos of each guest. If you’re really crunched on time, you can turn this into a first-thing activity for the little ones at your Thanksgiving feast. They’ll spend the first part of the party occupied, and you’ll get to focus on the million other things that you need to do.